Wednesday, 1 January 2014 - 5:55pm |
National News

Police appealing for reports of overdue walkers after body found in Tairua bush

1 min read

Waikato Police working to identify a person whose body was found this afternoon on a walking track near Tairua are appealing for reports of any missing persons.

Sergeant Damien O'Kane of the Tairua Police said the body of a male who appears aged between his mid thirties to forties was found by walkers on Collins Track in the Puketui Valley about midday.

"The track goes up to a popular lookout and at this time we have had no reports of any missing persons.

"Police, ambulance and Search and Rescue personnel met the members of the public who raised the alarm on the track and the man's body was airlifted by helicopter back to Tairua this afternoon."

The man is described as a male Caucasian aged 35-45 wearing a dark blue and grey T-shirt, blue shorts, black boots and a back pack.

Mr O'Kane said initial indications were there weren't any suspicious circumstances related to the man's death but this would need to be confirmed by a post-mortem examination.

"At this stage the priority is identifying who the man is and getting in contact with his nest of kin. The man did not have any identification on him and we're appealing for anyone who may have a friend or relative unaccounted for to make contact with Police."

Mr O'Kane said while it was too early to speculate on how the man died, today's discovery highlights the need for people to let others know when and where they are going into the outdoors and when they are due out.

End